Lloyd Baker
Analyst · D.A. Davidson. Please go ahead
Thank you, Rick, and good morning, everyone. As Mark has noted and is reported in our earnings release, Banner Corporation had a good first quarter and a good start to the year 2015. While completion of the purchase and integration of Siuslaw Bank was certainly a highlight of the quarter, our financial performance continued to reflect strong revenue growth driven by solid net interest margin coupled with significant earning asset growth and increased non-interest income, including increased deposit fees and service charges and record mortgage banking revenues. This solid performance followed trends that have been evident for extended periods and continued to demonstrate the strength of our balance sheet and the value of the Banner franchise. Our income available to common shareholders for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, increased nearly 15% to $12.1 million or, $0.61 per diluted share compared to $10.6 million or $0.54 per diluted in the same quarter a year ago. This earnings growth reflects significant organic growth. As well as last year's purchase of six branches on the southern Oregon coast. And, a little less than one month benefit from the Siuslaw Bank acquisition. The current quarter had $1.6 million of acquisition-related expenses which, net of taxes, reduced net income by $0.07 per diluted share. While similar expenses in the first quarter of 2014 were just $45,000. As a reminder, acquisition-related expenses in the fourth quarter of 2014 were $2.8 million, which net of taxes reduced earnings by $0.09 per diluted share. Revenues in the current quarter included a positive net fair value adjustment of $1.1 million which was partially offset by $510,000 of net realized losses on the sale of securities. The net fair value gain and realized losses on the sale of securities were both primarily related to the sale of two pooled trust preferred collateralized debt obligation securities which, had previously been carried at fair value. As I've noted before, our exception is, that fair value adjustments will most often result in a modest net charge which, was the case in both the preceding quarter and the first quarter year ago. As valuation adjustments on our junior subordinated debentures, or trust preferred securities, are normally the principal component of this income statement line. And, increases in the fair value of those significantly discounted liabilities will naturally occur as the passage of time brings them closer to maturity. More important, as Mark already noted, our revenues from core operations, which is revenues excluding the gains and losses on sale of securities and net fair value adjustments, were $59.7 million in the first quarter of 2015 and increase of nearly 2% compared to the immediately preceding quarter. And, more impressively, an increase of $8.3 million or 16% compared to the same quarter a year ago. As I previously noted, this strong revenue generation for the first quarter, was the result of significant balance sheet growth, a remarkably stable net interest margin, additional client acquisition. And, compared to both the preceding quarter and the first quarter a year ago, improved mortgage banking activity. Together these trends clearly demonstrate that our value proposition is being well received. And, that the focused efforts of our employees and the strength of our balance sheet, are combining to produce consistent earnings momentum and add to the value of the Banner franchise. Primarily, as a result of significant growth in the average balances of loans and core deposits, our net interest income increased by $3.2 million, or 10% compared to the first quarter a year ago. Improvements in our earning asset mix and further reductions in our funding costs, allowed our net interest margin to increase to 4.09% in the current quarter and compared to 4.08% in the immediately preceding quarter and 4.07% in the first quarter a year ago. In addition, again this quarter we did not identify a need to reduce net interest income with the provision for loan losses. As all of our credit quality indicators remain strong. Deposit fees and service charges were $8.1 million in the first quarter. A small decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, but an increase of 23% compared to the first quarter a year ago. You may recall that the fourth quarter included $260,000 adjustment related to the under accrual of interchange revenues in prior periods, which added approximately $0.01 to earnings per share for that quarter. Similar to recent quarters the significant increases in these fees and service charges compared to a year earlier is a direct result of our growth in core deposit accounts and related transition reflecting the success of our client acquisition strategies. As well as the branch purchase in June of last year and the more recent merger with Siuslaw Bank in March of this year. The increase in these deposit fees and service charges also reflects the continuing benefit from our decision to move our debit card and credit card relationship to MasterCard in the second half of last year. As reported in the earnings release our mortgage banking revenues were particularly strong contributing $4.1 million to 2015 first quarter revenues compared to $3 million in the preceding quarter and $1.8 million in the first quarter a year ago while this increase in revenue certainly reflects the current low mortgage rates which have supported strong home purchase activity in our markets as well as increased refinancing activity. It also... reflects the incremental production as a result of our continued investment in this line of business. Aside from the acquisition-related expense previously noted, our operating expenses increased compared to the prior quarter largely as a result of cost associated with operating in the ten Siuslaw Bank branches for one month. Compared to the same quarter a year ago, our operating expenses increased more significantly. As we also incurred the expense associated with the 6 southern Oregon branches that were not acquired until late June 2014. In addition the current quarter’s expense reflects generally higher compensation costs and is slightly higher than normal amount of advertising and marketing expense. Finally with respect to the income statement our effective tax rate was 33.8% in the first quarter slightly higher than in recent quarters as a result of our expectation at a greater portion of our acquisition related expenses will be non-deductible for tax reporting in 2015. Of course, our quarter-end statement of condition has been significantly impacted by completion of the Siuslaw acquisition. In particular, Siuslaw Bank contributed $247 million to our consolidated loan totals and $316 million to total deposits as of March 31, 2015. We also recorded $21.1 million of goodwill as a result of the purchase and increased paid-in capital by $58.1 million to reflect the value of the Banner shares issued to the former Siuslaw shareholders. As an aside to these balance sheet changes we are pleased to report that in addition to closing the transaction we have very successfully converted all of the data processing and operating systems and the former Siuslaw Bank branches and employees are all proudly serving their clients under the Banner flag today. Without diving deeply into the loan and deposit balance changes, the details of which are laid out in the earnings release, I would just note a couple of items. First and foremost it’s important to note that both loans and deposit increased by 17% compared to a year ago. And while the acquisitions were important to these increases organic growth throughout the intervening 12 months was substantial and indicative of our successful client acquisition strategies and a value proposition that is resonating with new and existing clients. As you are all aware this increase in client balances is the critical requirement for revenue growth and we remain pleased with the continuing phase of client acquisition. Finally it’s important to note that growth in total deposits continues to reflect even more significant growth in core deposits which increased by 28% compared to a year earlier and in March 31, 2015 comprised of 82% of total deposits. These core deposits provide a stable funding base which will be helpful with interest rates ever do raise. And represent the foundational accounts for relationship banking which is the basis for Banner's Super Community Bank model. So, with those comments, this concludes my prepared remarks. In summary, I will reiterate, that the first quarter was clearly a good start to 2015. A year that will be transformational for our Company and, that we continue to believe that Banner is very well positioned for further success in future periods. As always, I look forward to your questions. Mark?